Spoilers:
from the manga, but you only recognized them if you read the said
chapter, so don't worry about it

And
thanks to the awesome Fangurl752 for beta doing this for me !

This
fic is my Christmas present to Fangurl752, MoonStarDutchess and
everyone from royai thread in FMA forum! Thank you so much for your
support!

Disclaimer:
I don't own anything (if I did the manga would be called "The
Flame Alchemist" XD)

The Mistletoe

And
so it was Christmas Eve.

Riza
looked around the noisy bar in awe, Christmas time always made her
feel good; it was one of the few holidays that she actually enjoyed.

When
she was a child, this period was meaningless for her, growing up
around an alchemist turned her into an agnostic person, but now
Christmas held a powerful meaning, not because she believed in God
now - a thing she doesn't - but because it is the only period of
the year when she can enjoy Roy's company, not as a coworker or a
friend, but as something more.

Go
to bed and wake up with him, spend days as if they were married - she
hoped that someday they can really be - live, if only for a few days,
without worrying about being caught. That's what makes this date so
special for her.

Roy
seems to enjoy this period as much as she does, 'Butthis
year something seems to be different'. She noticed, 'Every
time we are in some place which has something that reminds him of
Christmas, decorations like trees, ribbons or mistletoes hanging from
the ceilings and doorframes Roy's expression changes, he starts to
have these daydreamer's eyes, like he is thinking of something very
far away, he keeps this stare that shows he obviously isn't paying
attention to anything besides his own thoughts, an action very
unusual of him.' She mused 'But what bothers me more is
that it's something that only myself appears to notice, and still
it is something I can't put my finger on…like if it's private
and he doesn't want to share.'

During
all these years that they've been together (and it has been a very
long time) Roy proved himself a difficult man, but a man that she got
used to, reading his feelings behind his famous mask is an art that
she mastered, and a tiny detail she wouldn't let pass by… even a
small and apparently insignificant one as this, for self experience
she knows that Roy could be hiding something bigger than she thought
like when they came back from Ishbal.

A
loud laugh brought her back from her thoughts; some joke about Havoc
and his lack of love life was being discussed around the table where
Mustang's five subordinates and the colonel himself were having
their traditional officer party. Every year was the same thing, they
reunited themselves in a small place in town to exchange small gifts
and talk about silly things non-related to work. The meetings never
lasted long, when the place started to get full it was time to say
goodbye.

Some
of them, like Fuery would go home to celebrate the holidays with his
family, and mostly of them, including Havoc, Falman and Breda would
go to the "Traditional Armstrong Christmas Party".

And
as a tradition too Roy would ask Riza if she wanted a ride home, she
would politely accept and they would go to Roy's house and have
their own private party. She suspects that the other subordinates
know about it – and the suspicions became a reality when a few
years ago they stopped inviting them to others celebrations - but she
didn't mind, there aren't any other people she trusts more than
them.

In
the confusion of Goodbyes and Merry Christmases she caught Roy's
daydreamer's expression again, he was looking – or better staring
– at the nearest doorframe where a couple expressed their love
under the mistletoe.

Taking
advantage of the mess that was the bar at that moment she casually
asked him:

"Seriously
Riza it's nothing" He cleared his throat and asked more loudly
"May I offer you a ride home Hawkeye?"

'It's
nothing' hardly satisfied her "I'll be glad to accepted
Colonel-" But before he could get up to leave she added "but I'm
afraid I just can't until after you tell me what's bothering
you." A teasing smile escaped her lips.

And
Roy knew he was ambushed, nothing he could say or do would make her
change her mind; stubborn as she is, she wouldn't let him go before
he answered the damn question.

"Fine...you
win" he leaned closer and whispered "but you have to promise not
to laugh."

She nodded

"Ok
…this is silly…you know what's bothering me"– she shake her
head in deny-

"Mistletoe!!!"
he pointed one at the ceiling, a small blush spreading in his face.

"What??"
Her surprise was evident. "Mistletoe? Why? Are you allergic or
something?"

"No!
It's not that…it's just" -his voice was so low that she could
barely hear-"this tradition annoys me, all this people kissing each
other under this stupid plant and …"

"Oh
God ...you're jealous" Riza started to giggled

"No…I…maybe
I am." He frowned and the second part came in such a rush from his
mouth that Riza thought she might have heard wrong
"Ijustwishicoulddothesamewithyou".

'This
is fascinating' Riza thought, her face a mixture of amusement
and surprise 'This is so funny and adorable' Roy's silly
confession wasn't something she was used to hearing, and now she
wanted to hold and kiss him so badly 'he is just so cute
embarrassed like this.'

Only
one thought crossed her mind after his question, "I'm afraid I
can't sir, there are a few things I need to do." He looked at her
in disbelief and before he could ask her why, she was shoving him out
of the bar and into his car.

"But
…" was all Roy could mumble before she whispered in his ear:

"Go
home and wait for me, I promise I'll be there quickly." She
kissed his cheek. "Trust me, ok?" Without waiting for an answer,
Riza winked at him and got back to the bar.

XX

An
hour has passed and Roy is still waiting for her, walking back and
forth inside his house 'Where the hell is she' is the only
thing crossing his mind at the moment when a suddenly knock on the
door called his attention.

Roy
opened the door and there she was. Her blond hair spreading over her
shoulders like a organized mess wrapping her flushed cheeks, her
breath forming small clouds around her face while she tried to regain
it, showing that she probably run over there, the snow that
constantly fell over Central this time of the year hanging from her
clothes and hair leaving a glow accentuated by the dimly light.
'Stunning' Roy thought while the corner of his lips turned
up into a small smile. Riza's eyes held a mischievous grin.

"Riza
where have you…" he couldn't finish, a finger against his lips
shut him up

"I
have something for you" entering his house and closing the door,
she asked him to close his eyes and stay quiet.

Roy
obediently followed the orders "What are you doing?" he asked
hearing her move around his place.

"You
will see."

After
a few minutes, Roy felt her hands in his while she guided him around
the living room and then she stopped moving.

"Open
your eyes." She told him

And
so he did, just to find her brown eyes looking to the ceiling, an
invitation for him, his eyes soon drifted from hers to look at the
spot above their heads. A chuckle escaped from his lips.

Mistletoe
was hanging from the ceiling, a single one just above their heads.
Before he knew what's was happening her arms encircle his neck and
a pair of lips brushed against his, not wasting any time his arms
found her waist pulling her close and he whispered in their kiss
"this is the best present I've ever had", and dissolved her
smile in a passionate kiss, first the lips brushing lightly felling
each others warmth, and then their tongues entangling themselves,
like a waltz, in a slow, long and loving kiss.

Separating
only enough for breath, both bodies still so close, as if they were
melting into each other, staring deeply into his midnight eyes Riza
broke the silence: "I'm late, sorry…it took me forever to
convince the waitress to give me one of these" she smiled.

Roy just hugged her
tightly, smelling the scent of her hair, gunpowder and jasmine, he
whispered in her ear "I love you…but I think you know that, don't
you?" she smiled resting her cheek against his "I do, but somehow
I never get tired of hearing it again" with a sigh she complete "I
love you Roy."

They
stayed like this for several minutes before she spoke again "What's
that?" she asked pointing to a small object beside a small box
decorated with snowmen. 'It looks familiar to me' Riza
thought

"What?
...Oh that" he pick up the wooden figure, taking a look more
closely Riza recognize it as a chess piece, to be more exact a queen.
"It's a Christmas present that General Grumman sent me."

Now
was Riza's turn to laugh "I knew I recognized it from
somewhere…my grandfather gave me one of these too, but mine is a
king."

They
stared at each other for a few moments before starting to giggle.
"Any chance of him trying to say that he found out about us?" she
asked Roy

"Maybe…but
I think he is trying to make me fulfill a promise I made him sometime
ago."

"Really?
And may I ask you what promise is that?" she teased him.

Roy
stopped to think for an instance and then answered "Yeah ...I think
I can tell you since it's something I have to ask your opinion
about." He gave to her a mischievous look before turning around to
put the piece back in its place "In a matter of fact, I think I
will fulfill part of it right now."

Riza
just looked at him; she couldn't see his face, since his back was
turned to her, "And what promise could be so important that my own
grandfather couldn't tell me?" She asked now really curious about
it.

"Ah,
nothing big…he just asked me if when I became the fuehrer I could
marry his granddaughter." Roy turned to see her face and realized
that her back was facing him.

The
moment the words left his mouth, Riza froze; she had just turned to
go to the kitchen when she heard what he had just said, for a moment
she thought she might have heard it wrong, or that was just her
imagination tricking her, but when his arms embraced her and he
rested his head in the curve of her neck was when the words really
sunk inside her 'What could he possibly mean?' She asked
herself already knowing the answer.

Roy
turned her around so he could look deep into her eyes, he then pulled
her under the mistletoe, never letting go of the embrace. His heart
was racing like mad, clearing his throat, he gulp all his fears and
doubts and asked in a very nervous tone.

"Will
you marry me Riza? I don't have a ring right now, and I know we
won't be able to use one and I know we won't be able to make this
official either, but if you don't mind about that , marry me , and
I promise you that when I became the fuehrer the first thing I'm
going to do is marry you again and…" Riza stopped him with a kiss
that almost knocked him out; when they separated she just stared at
him, eyes wide and a huge smile while she hugged him tightly, this
attitude only made Roy more nervous, when he was about to start
babbling once more she kissed him again with all the passion and
desire that she held inside her.

This
time when they broke the kiss she spoke first "I do, Roy" her
eyes glowing from the tears she was trying to hold back "I do now,
when you became the fuehrer, twenty years from now…always." her
arms around his neck holding him to her, she kissed his cheek, a
butterfly kiss and then whispered in his ear "This is the best
present I've ever had"

Roy
smiled bending down until theirs noses touched each other "I'm
glad you liked, Mrs. Mustang."

And so it was Christmas
Eve; under the mistletoe a couple kissed, kisses full of hope and
love, just as the tradition said it should be.

Fin.

A/N:
Happy Holidays to everyone!!! If you have time please review
(reviews are my presents D) you will certainly make my holiday more
happy!!

Thanks and bye

Riza 9
30/12/06

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.